Ttk CNS 220 Final Project

Part 1: Personal Action Plan

If you have a dream, you can spend a lifetime studying, planning, and getting
ready for it. What you should be doing is getting started.
-Drew Houston, Founder/CEO of Dropbox
The purpose of this project is to integrate and mobilize your new skills, resources, experiences and knowledge
into a plan you can use to create meaningful action toward your personal and career-related goals. This final
project, your Action Plan, along with your Meta-Reflection, will allow you to consolidate your new competencies
and understanding of yourself, as well as options in the world of work that are relevant to you.
Checklist to complete this project:
Answer the following prompts and complete the action plan on the following pages. Please complete
this electronically by filling out this document.
Complete a career coaching appointment with a career coach in the OPCD to review your action plan for
feedback.
Write your meta-reflection based on the prompts provided after this action plan worksheet.
Please follow the prompts listed here and integrate 8-10 resources from our course as supporting material,
evidence for your plan, or new information that informs your future actions. You will start by reviewing your
progress and citing the experiences that have created impact and opportunity.
This project is a template you can use now and as your goals unfold, or shift in the future. Ive provided this
blank template for your Action Plan on Sakai and our ePortfolio website. Keep it and feel free to use it in the
future.
First, begin by answering these questions for yourself. Be as complete as you can, using a sentences or two for
each prompt:
I enrolled in this course for this primary purpose or because: I wanted to know more about the job search. I
have always been interested in the techniques that underlie going to interviews, networking and applying for
a job. Since I am an incoming junior, I thought it would be helpful in helping me get a head start by knowing
how to apply for internships.
When I started this class, I was considering this/these options in the world of work: I was considering being in
marketing, public relations and event planning
At the beginning of our course, these were my initial assumptions/thoughts about myself and the world of
work as it related to me
1. I thought that networking was something hard for me.
2. I thought I was not going to move past public relations in the corporate world.
3. I considered human resources to be something that was not for me.
Next, continue by considering the results of your self-assessment undertaken through our course. You may wish
to review the Self-Assessment section of your ePortfolio. Write a sentence or two to answer these prompts:
What are the key points you have learned about yourself as it relates to your current ideas related to career
goals? Which projects, experiences or readings provided this learning? List 3-5 key learnings and the
rationale/or sources for class that help clarify this self-assessment.
1. I thought that the career exploration project was very beneficial because it gave me more insight into my
preferred career choice as well as it helped me see the different careers that overlapped with my
interests.
2. I thought bringing people from the career center was helpful because it gave me insight into the office
and what they can help with, which is essentially everything in the career job search process.
3. Having the informational interviews was very helpful because it helped me see if it was something I was
interested in or not, I learned I actually would be interested in human resources.
4. Through the readings, I learned that there are different kinds of paths, and I only really saw it as being
one option. I learned different people can succeed with different paths, and we all have one that could
best fit our lifestyle, personality and work ethic.
5. Our research projects on Applied Research Project was also helpful. It helped me see whether or not Its a
good idea to start in LA, or whether I should work in a more financially stable area for my work in PR, like
Atlanta.

 What has been the most valuable piece of information you have learned about yourself as it relates to
opportunities of value to you? How did you learn this as part of our course?
I learned that I can be very social when initially I thought I was a shy person. I know how to be a good
communicator, and I know that will help me whenever I am applying for a job and interviewing. From the Email follow-ups to the actual interview, I know I learned skills through the class that helped me become a
better outstanding candidate for my internship.
Now, think about the exploration and research you have conducted and write a sentence or two to answer the
following for yourself. Again, you may wish to look at your Career Research and Exploration section of your
ePortfolio.
How did you explore and research career-related opportunities and options? How would you summarize the
resources/experiences that have been most helpful?
When I applied for this class, I made DeaconSource a tab on my internet. I would go on there every 4 to 5
days and see if there were any job openings that interested me. I also used my basic social skills. The
internship I am getting this summer for Public Relations at Diane von Furstenberg are all because of a
connection I made through a club I am part of here at school. This one connection open so many doors to
me, and by allowing myself to use my connections and not be afraid I was able to get so many opportunities.
What do you need to be doing now based on your class year at Wake Forest and the options you are
currently exploring? hint: take a look at the OPCD site (it lists activities by year and the explore careers tab
here: http://career.opcd.wfu.edu/explore-careers gives a timeline for specific career fields)
I am supposed to be looking for internship, strengthening my resume and looking at DeaconSource
consistently. As a sophomore, I am proud to say I have all of those things. After working 3 months with the
Office of Personal Career and Development on my resume, I finally had a perfect template to show any kind
of employer at any time. When I need to send in an application, it is now very easy for me to do so because
of the time and effort I have already put in into my cover letter and resume.

My list

of key points and valuable personal learning is the following:

Communicating with future employers in the most efficient way possible.
Learning to work with others in an environment that fosters hard work.
Applying my different skills to my different fields of choice.

My plans for growth are:

Being more open minded about my different options

Knowing how to sell myself with employers who might doubt my skills
Listening to my interviewee and employer for feedback on my work ethic, presentation, etc.

Options in the World of Work: Career Action Plan

4/27/2015
Please type your action plan goals below and provide the rationale (the reason you plan to do this) and courserelated source for this goal. Excellent action plans will draw on 8-10 different sources from class (e.g. projects,
experiences, readings, lectures, resources). It is important to anticipate barriers to reaching your goals. This may
be as simple as time limitations during finals week. If we can identify barriers or obstacles, we can also
identify resources that will help us overcome these obstacles so out momentum on reaching the goals is not
diminished.
Step 1: Self-Assessment
Based on what you have learned about yourself, the world of work, values and career related interests, list your
most important information about yourself (column 1). I also expect you to describe the rationale and source of
this learning (e.g., Strong Interest Inventory, Career Genogram, Values Lecture, journal entry, etc.).
Self-Assessment/Career Related Knowledge
Strong communications skills

Able to work with others

Course Citation/Experiential Source

Interview with CNN International/ Strong Interest
Inventory
Career exploration project, working with group 4

Know the application process etiquette

Journal entry, informational interview, internship

interview

Step 2: Short-Term Goals for the Next Thirty (30) Days

In Step 2, Im going to ask you to set some short-term goals based on what youve learned about yourself above.
These goals may be based on information you received in an informational interview, from your job shadow,
perspective gained at an OPCD workshop, data you explored on particular career-related web sites or from our
readings or experiences. Example short-term goals might look like:
Follow up with internships I ended up not considering and write a Thank-You letter to them for their kindness
in considering me for applying.
Send a hand written thank you letter to Diane von Furstenberg for giving me the spot in her PR internship
team.
Follow up with movie director about internship in the fall of 2015.
In this table, list two (2) short-term goals for next thirty (30) days and action steps to reach them. Include a date
to complete the goals and action steps (column 1). You should support your goal with an appropriate
rationale/source from the course or your exploration that explains your reason or motivation for the short-term
goals (column 2).
Short-Term Goals for the Next Thirty (30)
Rationale/Source from Course or Exploration
Days
Goal 1:Follow up with directing internship Fall
2015
1.
Action Step a. write an E-mail still considering
interest
1a. Job informational interview with CNN International
Action Step b. keep other options open so I dont
get attached
1b. Krumboltz reading
Goal 2: follow up with internships I didnt end up
taking
Action Step a. gather my contacts for the
application
Action Step b. Make each email personal and
suggest future employment interest.

2.
2a. Job etiquette: Patrick Sullivan Talk
2b. Job etiquette , Patrick Sullivan Talk

Now that youve spent some time identifying your short-term goals for the next thirty (30) days, I want you to
think about any potential obstacles you may encounter in the process of reaching these goals and completing
your action steps. Additionally, please identify resources you may use to overcome these obstacles (e.g., identify
the tools, information, planning and/or people who can help you).
Potential Obstacles to Completing ShortTerm Goals
Resources to Overcome Potential Obstacles
1. Etiquette for Internships- Patrick Sullivan Talk/ Meeting
1. Possibly not getting any follow up back
with my career coach
2. Not getting a response back from internships
that offered me a position
2. Conversation with Informational interview- Birchbox
3. Not completing this during the appropriate
time frame
3. Etiquette- Patrick Sullivan Talk
Step 3: Long-Term Goals for the Next Three (3) Months
Now, in Step 3, I want you to set two (2) long-term goals and actions steps to help you reach them. Example
long-term goals might look like:
Join the Executive Committee of Wake and Shake. Rationale: recruiters like to see leadership on a resume
(source: Internship Presentation in Class & OPCD Job Search Workshop)
Conduct informational interview with attorneys in my county by end of August. Rationale: explore law
schools that may network or offer recruiting options within my home state/region to determine top choices
for law school applications (Source: Graduate/Professional School Panel information)
Take Computer Science course next semester. Rationale: basic programming important skill for one of my
industries of choice (Source: informational interview #2 with alumnus at Red Ventures)
Long-Term Goals for the Next Three (3)
Months

Rationale/Source from Course or Exploration

Goal 1: complete Castalia Internship for the

summer
Action Step a. Go and learn from Broadcasting
Action Step b. Reflect every week about projects

1. Meeting with Professor Robinson

1a. Meeting with Professor Robinson
1b. Meeting with Professor Robinson

Goal 2: Reply to all internships with thank you

letters
Action Step a. Research all internships
Action Step b. Send out thank you notes

2. Meeting with Professor Robinson

2a. Meeting with Professor Robinson
2b. Meeting with Professor Robinson

Just as you did with your short-term goals, I want you to think about any potential obstacles you may encounter
in the process of reaching your long-term goals and completing your action steps. Additionally, please identify
resources you may use to overcome these obstacles (e.g., identify the tools, information, planning and/or people
who can help you).
Potential Obstacles to Completing LongTerm Goals
Resources to Overcome Potential Obstacles
1. Getting a last minute denial for Internship
1. Potentially do job shadows all summer
2. Doing the internship and realizing its not what I 2. Research broadcasting techniques and get to know
want
practice
3. Not getting an offer to come back
3. Send a thank you letter to everyone in office

Accountability Partner (with whom will you share

this plan):

Professor Heidi Robinson, Cheryl Hicks, Jessica Long

After you have completed the Action Plan and had it reviewed by a career coach in the OPCD, take some time to
write up your meta-reflection for the course using the prompts on the next page.

Part 2: Meta-Reflection
Now that you have a clear action plan developed for yourself, the second part of your final project
involves taking a step back and thinking about all that youve learned, in class, as well as through
your career research, exploration and experiences.
To begin your meta-reflection: Review your progress

First, take a few minutes to review the readings we used from the beginning of our
course (Path Finding, Road Trip Nation, Luck Is No Accident). Now, think about the career
beliefs and interests you had as you entered the course.
What did you believe about the world of work and specifically, your engagement with or
vision for yourself in it? You have explored a host of perspectives, had real experiences and
gained competencies that may have been new or refined though this course. You have
documented your progress and gained skills with the construction of your ePortfolio.
What do you notice about your ePortfolio and what it says about your growth and
preparation?

Then, look at your ePortfolio. Review your results from the Strong Interest Inventory, re-read
your first informational interview and compare it to your last. Review your job shadow or
activities summaries.
What do you notice in the difference between the way you conducted or synthesized
information early in the course and how your thinking has evolved?
What was the process you used to select your informational interview subjects or areas of
exploration?
What kinds of activities items might you now be considering?

Think about how youve changed. What changes do you notice in your thinking as a result of
creating your ePortfolio and your experiences in class? What do you notice in your ePortfolio?
How do these examples demonstrate that you have learned (made a measurable change) as a
result of this process?

Now, here are the questions to guide your written reflection:

BIG PICTURE
Describe how focusing your attention on exploring the world of work, has impacted your
thinking? How do you see your own growth and changes in your perspective? How is your
individual education preparing you for your professional aspirations as you currently
understand them? How will you use the rest of your time at Wake Forest as a result? In other
words, what is next for you in this process?
THE PROCESS
Look at your ePortfolio as a whole. How has the creation of the ePortfolio impacted your
thinking regarding yourself as a young professional, as a student engaged in preparing for a
career and the career development cycle?
GROWTH AND VALUE
What has surprised you in the process of completing informational interviews, networking,
exploring resources and evaluating your options? What has been most valuable in light of
your goals? How can this process be helpful to all undergraduates?

Youve done a lot of work this semester! This project gave you the opportunity to develop concrete
action plans for your future and also to think about what youve learned throughout the course. Post
both your Action Plan and Meta-Reflection (you can use this document as a template) in your ePortfolio under the Research and Career Exploration area AND bring a copy to class. Please
review the rubrics on the following pages to make sure youve met all the assignment
requirements. Please note, there are two (2) rubrics, one for each part of this project. Each
is worth 25 points.

Meta Reflection
Throughout the course this semester, I didnt just learn about the
process of joining the world of work, I learned a lot about myself.
Juggling various options, I was always very confused with what I
wanted to do, and If what I really wanted to do was something that I
could be financially stable in. From the readings in RoadTrip Nation, I
was shocked at the various kinds of ways we find ourselves in our
career. I thought there was only one rigid path, you decide what you
want and you dont have much flexibility after that. Growing up with
Mexican parents, their way of work is completely different than the
way U.S. careers work. In Mexico, you decide what you want to do
really early on, and that Is because of the amount of competition there
Is to be successful there. 10th graders begin determining whether or
not they are going to be involved in law or science, and to me that was
always pretty shocking. When my parents told me they decided their

careers at the age of 13, I freaked out, thinking thats how it is

everywhere. Little did I know that we all have different journeys, and
that was very impacting and relieving for me. At the beginning of this
course, I was setting up my interview for the PR Internship at Diane
von Furstenberg. I had multiple meetings with my career coaches
about my resume, cover letter and interview tips, and thought this
class was just going to give me some extra time to work on that. Its
incredible how things can turn a completely different way than you
planned it to be, and I think thats why I loved Roadtrip Nation very
much. With my job shadow, I was offered a job where they pay me to
go to Mexico and work at a television network. This class didnt just
give me extra time but it gave me a wider pool of opportunities, and its
funny how your journey can quickly change paths in a positive way.
Looking back at my ePortfolio, I was able to clearly see my progress
throughout the semester. I thought each project was helpful in some
way, especially the Applied research project and the Career Exploration
Presentations. These presentations where helpful because they gave
more information on the multitude of careers out there and how a
career can have endless amounts of different jobs. It also gave me the
practicality of deciding a major, where to live, the costs that need to be

thought of that sometimes people tend to push away. It is extremely

important to work within your measures when starting out my career,
and I thought this project was especially helpful not only in the future
but it also helped me with my decision on the internship I was
choosing. It wasnt exactly the same thing, but it started to make me
practice how to choose between the options I have, and think
realistically with my intuition rather than an option I know looks
appealing but might not be the best one at the moment.

Overall, these projects and this work was something I am grateful to

have been offered. This class got me a head start in what I want to do,
and with the internship I have this summer, I know the steps I need to
take and the plan of action for myself. I also know that though I may
not be able to do 3 internships at a time, my professionalism and
etiquette is very important, and showing gratitude is the best way to
show interest and individuality. It makes you stand out, and this class
has showed me how to be that special candidate in the job process.

Rubric
Personal Action Plan
25 points total

Sophisticated

Competent

Not Yet Competent

Action plan
demonstrates
short-term
career goals and
rationale
(7 points)

Action plan has two

both academic or
career-related goals
listed for next 1-3
months (short and long
term) and includes,
action steps,
rationale/source from
coursework

Action plan has both

academic and careerrelated goals listed for
next 1 or 3 months and
has rationale for some
but not all or rationale
unrelated to coursework

Action plan has only

academic or career
goals but not both;
rationale missing or
incomplete

Action plan
demonstrates
use of long-term
goals and
rationale
(7 points)

Action plan has 2

goals, time-bound
action steps created
and cites more than
three references from
projects, experiences or
information gained as
part of course
objectives

Action plan has 2-3

action steps that
created and citing 6-8
references from
projects, experiences or
information gained as
part of course
objectives

Action plan has 1-2

goals or action steps
but does not have both;
or, does not cite
learning from course as
rationale for action
steps

Action plan
includes name of
accountability
partner, potential
obstacles and
resources to
overcome
barriers/obstacle
s
(3.5 points)

Name of accountability
partner is listed,
obstacles/barriers and
resources to overcome
obstacles/barriers are
listed.

Action plan
answers prompts
demonstrating
growth or
perspective from
start of course
(3 points)

Action plan includes

answers to prompts to
questions listed for preplanning for document

Student
completes career
coaching

Student attends
coaching session with
career coach to review

Not located in ePortfolio

and/or does not have
accountability partner
listed

Action plan includes a

few but not all answers
to prompts/questions
listed for pre-planning
for document

Action plan does not

include answers to
prompts/questions
listed for pre-planning
for document

N/A

N/A

appointment to
review plan
(3 points)

action plan

Action plan
added to
ePortfolio and
printed copy
turned in on time
(1.5 points)

Action plan added to

ePortfolio and turned
into class on time

N/A

N/A

Rubric
Meta-Reflection
25 points total

Sophisticated

Competent

Not Yet Competent

Reflection on
overall
experience of
ePortfolio
creation
(5 points)

Reflection includes 4-6

specific references of,
and reflections on,
aspects of ePortfolio
creation

Reflection includes 3-4

references of, and
reflections on, aspects
of ePortfolio creation;
lacks specificity in
terms of examples or
experiences

Reflection includes 1-2

references of, and
reflections on, aspects
of ePortfolio creation;
lacks specificity in
terms of examples or
reflection

Reflection on
process
(5 points)

Reflection includes 3
references to actual
process of selecting
artifacts, creating
ePortfolio and editing
portfolio for a targeted
audience

Reflection includes 2
references to actual
process of selecting
artifacts, creating
ePortfolio and editing
portfolio for a targeted
audience

Reflection includes 1
reference to actual
process of selecting
artifacts, creating
ePortfolio and editing
portfolio for a targeted
audience

Reflection includes 3-5

examples of students
specific learning and
growth achieved during
class through specific
experiences and
activities

Reflection includes 2-3

examples of students
specific personal
learning and growth
achieved during class
through experiences
and activities, not
specific

Reflection includes 1-2

examples of students
specific personal
learning and growth
achieved during class
through experiences
and activities, not
specific or tied to
projects, experiences or
activities

Overall reflection
indicates consideration
of topic and planning

Reflection indicates
some consideration of
topic; feels rushed

Reflection indicates
inadequate
consideration of topic
and no planning;
rushed quality to
writing and thought

Reflection meets
writing conventions;
virtually zero
punctuation, grammar,
formatting errors

Reflection meets some

writing conventions;
contains 2-4
punctuation, grammar,
formatting errors

Reflection does not

meet writing
conventions; 5 or more
punctuation, grammar,
formatting errors

Meta-reflection added
to ePortfolio and turned
into class on time

N/A

N/A

Reflection on
growth and
progress
(5 points)

Quality of
reflection
(5 points)

Writing
conventions
(2.5 points)
Timeliness
(2.5 points)